Saturday, September 14, 2024

Review: Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood

 


A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science.

Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.

Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through - and he's a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can't stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him.

Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business - one that plays for keeps.

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What I thought about Not in Love

Rue and Eli start out as frenemies as the company Rue works for is about to get new funders.I found this idea of the story an interesting one, as these characters are attracted to each other from the beginning, before the details and motivations of one side are revealed

As for the romance, I really liked how this one started, at least when I figured out the voices in the narrative. But somewhere along the way I became less interested in these characters that had intrigued me at the start.  Eli seemed like a good guy, but some of his thinking turned me off, especially the amount of time he brings up his ex. Especially when his thoughts at meeting Rue were so very strong and significant.  IDK, your mileage may vary as they say.

It should be noted that Not in Love is billed as more of an erotic romance rather than a rom-com.  There is physical attraction and quite a bit of sex happening, but it didn't always hit the mark for this reader. I did find myself skimming some of these scenes, especially since I was really looking for how these characters felt about each other. I did like Rue -- she was quirky and socially awkward outside of her group and yet had a sense of humor that was sarcastic and funny. I did love the way Eli and Rue meet via the app.

Overall, I did like the characters although I wished for a more well defined arc of their growth, which was sort of muddled here and sometimes slowed things down too much for me. I had mixed feelings about Eli and I wasn't sure that I really liked him or not. There is also a good cast of secondary characters on both sides of the story.  There are some hits and some misses for me in Not in Love which is why I am rating this 3 stars. 


 

About the Author

I'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life! 

My favorite thing in the world is to explore traditional romance tropes—and to picture how they’ll play out in academic settings.


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Thursday, September 12, 2024

Review: How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes

 

The unbreakable bonds of family and love are explored in this brilliant and tender story from the author of Guy's Girl.

On the day she arrives in Canada for her older brother's wedding, Eliot Beck hasn't seen her family in three years. Eliot adores her big, wacky, dysfunctional collection of siblings and in-laws, but there's a reason she fled to Manhattan and buried herself in her work—and she’s not ready to share it with anyone. Not when speaking it aloud could send her back into the never-ending cycle of the obsessive-compulsive disorder that consumed her for years.

Eliot thinks she's prepared to survive the four-day-long wedding extravaganza—until she sees her best friend, Manuel, waiting for her at the marina and looking as handsome as ever. He was the person who, when they met as children, felt like finding the missing half of her soul. The person she tried so hard not to fall in love with… but did anyway.

Manuel's presence at the wedding threatens to undo the walls Eliot has built around herself. The fortress that keeps her okay. If she isn't careful, by the end of this wedding, the whole castle might come crumbling down.

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What I thought about How to Hide in Plain Sight

I was hooked on this book from the opening scene.  Returning home to Cradle Island for her brother's wedding, Eliot Beck is forced her to confront some unresolved situations with her family and with Manuel, her former best friend she abandoned and someone she has deep feelings for.

The opening brought back my own memories of returning home after years away and how much things can change and yet remain the same.  I was immediately engaged with Eliot's voice. This is a very emotional book, and it had me choked up a few times. 

Eliot has OCD. She deals with intrusive thoughts on a daily basis and finds it easier to do that away from her family.  Going back home was a big lift for her, but thinking she can handle four days, she drives herself home to find her former best friend waiting for her. She has much to deal between Manuel and her family.

There are some difficult themes here that are handled with sensitivity and realism. Mental health, particularly OCD which surprised me as I thought I knew about this disorder, the death of a family member, and family dynamics in a large family unit -- There's lots to unpack here and the story is rich with situations that I found familiar in my own life, which made the book relatable. Everyone's grown up and has adult problems, not just Eliot.

Like most family drama, this story can be hard to read at times because there is quite a bit of realistic family drama going on here. I actually liked that about it as it was central to my connection with this story.  I appreciated the realism of both the family dynamics and the mental health issues.

Overall, I liked this #ownvoices story, especially the tough parts. Learning new aspects of OCD was a surprise, as was finding out just how much the author was connected to this material. There's a nice bit of romance too, but I felt the ending was a bit rushed.

 
 

About the Author

Emma Noyes is the author of Guy's GirlHow to Hide in Plain Sight, and The Sunken City trilogy. She grew up in a suburb outside Chicago and attended Harvard University, where she studied history and literature. She started her career at a beer company but left because she wanted to write about mermaids and witches — eventually publishing her first YA fantasy series. She now lives in Chicago with her Swedish fiancĂ© and accident-prone Pomeranian.

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Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Release Day Review: Fast & Reckless (Racing Hearts #1) by Amanda Weaver


Race into a sexy New Adult romance, set in the fast-paced world of Formula One. These friends-to-lovers are about to fall . . . fast and reckless.

He’s the one man she can’t have . . .


Mira Wentworth knows Will Hawley is trouble. Even if he revs her engine, flirting with the handsome new driver on her father’s Formula One team is not in the cards. Mira has sworn off on-track romance after a mistake as a teen cost her everything. Now she has a chance to win back her spot in F1 as a team assistant, and she's not going to let one cheeky, bad boy driver get in her way.

She’s the one woman he wants . . .

After his party boy antics nearly blew up his racing career, Will is finally back in the driver’s seat and determined to get onto the podium. He likes to think he’s reformed, but with one look at the boss’ daughter, he’s willing to risk it all.

As the heat builds between Mira and Will, their chemistry deepens into something more. But when the ugly events of the past come to call, their fragile new relationship is put to the test. Can Mira and Will’s love cross the finish line?

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 What I thought about Fast & Reckless

The boss's daughter falls for the reformed bad boy driver she really needs to stay away from in this Formula One racing-themed sports romance from Amanda Weaver.

Mira Wentworth knows she won't convince her father and the other racing team members that she knows her stuff if she gets involved with Will, but yet there is a spark between them that can't be ignored. So there are elements of forbidden romance here until all things just get crazy. There's a lot of pressure here for these two. Especially with Will wanting to win the title above all else.

There was a nice level of chemistry between these two, and while some may consider the "love" being more like "insta-love", I thought it was a good reflection on the pace of the environment. One of the things I really did like about this story is that I know very little about the racing world, and Fast & Reckless did a nice job of capturing what the sport was about. Great research wins the day here.

Overall, this was an entertaining sports romance based in the world of fast cars and plenty of drama. The main characters are easy to cheer on to the HEA.


Amanda Weaver has written everything from steamy contemporaries to swoony historicals, and can now add sports romance to that list, after her husband’s job as a Formula One journalist sparked a whole new obsession. In her “other life” Amanda is a costume designer working on Broadway and in opera. Born and raised in Florida, she now considers New York City home, and she lives with her family and cats in Brooklyn.

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Sunday, September 8, 2024

Release Week Review: The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore


In this elegant gothic horror tale set in post-revolutionary Russia, two formerly aristocratic sisters race to uncover their family’s long-buried secrets in a house haunted by a past dangerous—and deadly—to remember.

It is the summer of 1921, and a group of Bolsheviks have taken over Irina and Lili Goliteva’s ancestral home in Moscow, a stately mansion falling into disrepair and decay. The remaining members of their family are ordered to move into the cramped attic, while the officials take over an entire wing of grand rooms downstairs. The sisters understand it is the way of things and know they must forget their noble upbringing to make their way in this new Soviet Russia. But the house begins to whisper of a traumatic past not as dead as they thought.

Eager to escape it and their unwelcome new landlords, Irina and Lili find jobs with the recently arrived American Relief Administration, meant to ease the post-revolutionary famine in Russia. For the sisters, the ARA provides much-needed food and employment, as well as a chance for sensible Irina to help those less fortunate and artistic Lili to express herself for a good cause. It might just lead them to love, too.

But at home, the spirits of their deceased family awaken, desperate to impart what really happened to them during the Revolution. Soon one of the officials living in the house is found dead. Was his death caused by something supernatural, or by someone all too human? And are Irina and Lili and their family next? Only unearthing the frightening secrets of Moscow House will reveal all. But this means the sisters must dig deep into a past no one in Russia except the dead are allowed to remember.

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What I thought about The Haunting of Moscow House 

I spent many years in my early reading days indulging in historical fiction and while I don't read as much of this genre as I once did, if the description interests me, I'll give it a try.  This book was one where the synopsis grabbed me right away -- historical fiction, romance, with gothic / horror elements -- I was all in.

The story takes place in the 1920 in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.Two sisters are trying to survive, even thrive in an uncertain environment.  Their home has been appropriated by the Bolesheviks, and they have family members that are basically imprisoned in the worst spaces in the house.  Tough times.

I did love the cultural aspects of this story. It's always interesting to learn of long-held beliefs of different cultures, especially those that are a bit supernatural or magical. The concept of a house spirit is used effectively in this story and while considered malevolent, there are some interesting qualities here that blur things here.  I did like how this brought some horror elements to the story through this folklore.  I like to read historical fiction to learn about those times, and this definitely added something there.

Family secrets shake up things at the house, and there are some romantic elements. In spite of all of what goes on in this book, the pace is a bit of more of a slow burn rather than fast paced, which is more to my liking. I also wasn't a fan of the third person point of view, but I became accustomed to it once I got involved in the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It's well researched and an accomplished mash-up of historical fiction, the supernatural with a nice dose of romance. 

 

About the Author

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore is the author of The Witch and the Tsar. Originally from Moscow, she was raised in the US and graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in English/political science, and from Northwestern School of Law with a JD. She practiced litigation at a large law firm for several years before pursuing her dream of becoming an author. Now she is happiest writing speculative historical fiction inspired by Eastern European history and folklore. Her work has appeared in LitHub, Tor.com, Historical Novels Review, Bookish, Washington Independent Review of Books, among others. She lives in a wooded, lakeside suburb of Chicago with her husband and daughter. 

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Thursday, September 5, 2024

Coming Soon! 3 Holiday Romances from Sarina Bowen

 


RELEASE DATE: November 11, 2024

24-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen's first holiday collection! Enjoy three complete holiday romances from Sarina Bowen. You’re getting:

Boyfriend: a complete holiday novel with a hilarious premise.
Rent a boyfriend for the holiday. For $25, I will be your Thanksgiving date. I will show up in a nice shirt, talk hockey with your dad and bring your mother flowers…
Everyone knows it’s a bad idea to introduce your hockey crush to your messed-up family. But Abbi really needs a date for Thanksgiving, even if she can’t say why. But when she tears Weston’s number off of a flyer, she accidentally entangles Moo U’s star defenseman in a ruse that neither of them can easily unwind.

Crossroads: a novella of missed connections, broken dreams and two hearts that just won’t quit. Damien Rossi drives a taxi but dreams of more. Specifically, he dreams about Nicolette Overland, his favorite client, a lonely beauty who lives in an actual mansion on a hill.

Nicolette can’t stop thinking about the hunky guy with the soulful brown eyes, either. She looks forward to every Christmas holiday when she knows he’ll be waiting for her at the airport. But when she screws up her courage to finally tell him how she feels, it might be too late…

Blonde Date: a novella of hot nerds, basketball and revenge. Katie is done with bad boys after some very poor treatment by a fraternity guy. Now, facing a holiday Greek event, she needs a date. A nice guy this time. Good thing a certain nerdy basketball player wants to audition for the role…

Note: Boyfriend (68k words) is separately available, Crossroads (35k words) is brand new, and Blonde Date (30k words) has been previously published.

ADD TO GOODREADS

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216968586-holidating

Preorder VENDOR LINKS

Ebook will be at Amazon only:
https://geni.us/Holidating-Amazon

Paperbacks at:
Amazon:
https://geni.us/Holidating-paper

Bookshop.org:
https://geni.us/Holidating-Bookshop

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Books-a-Million:
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Mobile friendly links page:
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Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Review: Devils Island by Midge Raymond and John Yunker


Six guests embark on a wilderness tour, but only two emerge

Devils Island is home to abundant wildlife, making it the ideal place to reintroduce endangered Tasmanian devils. Working to rescue, rehabilitate, and release devils has been Kerry' s job and passion for years, but a new opportunity to work as a naturalist guide for a tour company offers her a respite from the emotionally grueling task of trying to save an endangered species.

Her first tour group as lead guide includes American college friends Brooke and Jane, who are reconnecting after years of estrangement, and two Australian couples hoping to escape their big-city lives and enjoy the company of longtime friends.

When one of the guests disappears on the first night, the group assumes she has wandered too far in the stormy weather. Yet it turns out she has a secret connection to one of the other guests— and when another hiker is found dead in camp, the group finds itself isolated by the worsening storm and wondering who among them might be responsible.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Unger and Barbara Kingsolver
 
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What I thought about Devils Island

I love a good "locked room mystery", especially when it is set among challenging conditions, like snow storms or other natural disasters.  I'm also a fan of learning about new locations or conditions or situations that I may not be able to experience in my little two  horse town.  So when I read the description for this book, I was all-in.

The story is set in Tasmania, Australia.  Right there I was hooked because I really don't know much about Tasmania and the initial pages take the reader right into the rescue and release operations.  Kerry is the lead tour guide, with Bryan as her second.  There are 6 people on the tour with them -- two Americans, Brooke and Jane, and two Australian couples who have been friends for years. So there's lot of potential histories with these folks and plenty of suspects too!

The story is told in multiple points of view, but for the most part, the story is told from Kerry and Brooke's point of view. I wasn't sure if I liked any of these characters, to be honest, but I did want to see how everything panned out.  This was an entertaining mystery, with some places where the could have been some revisions to make things a bit tighter.  There were a few info dumps and a lot of telling that could have been improved upon to make a stronger story.

Overall, I did enjoy this mystery. I need to have at least one twist that I don't see coming, and Devils Island delivered on that, but the un-likability of the characters and the copious amount of telling and info dumps brought down the rating. 


About the Authors

Midge Raymond is the author of the novels Floreana and My Last Continent and a short-story collection, Forgetting English, which received the Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. Her stories have appeared in TriQuarterly, American Literary Review, North American Review, Bellevue Literary Review, the Los Angeles Times magazine, Poets & Writers, and many other publications.

Midge is also the author of Devils Island, co-authored with John Yunker. She has taught writing at Boston University, Boston's Grub Street Writers, Seattle's Richard Hugo House, and San Diego Writers, Ink.

Midge lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her online at www.MidgeRaymond.com and www.MidgeandJohn.com

 

John Yunker is a writer of plays, short stories and novels focused on human/animal relationships.

He is co-founder of Ashland Creek Press, a vegan-owned publisher devoted to environmental and animal rights literature. He is author of the novel The Tourist Trail and the sequel Where Oceans Hide Their Dead.

His full-length play Meat the Parents was a finalist at the Centre Stage New Play Festival (South Carolina) and semi-finalist in the AACT new play contest. Species of Least Concern was a finalist in the Mountain Playhouse Comedy Festival. His short play, Little Red House, was published in the literary journal Mason's Road, and produced by the Studio Players Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky. The short play Of Mice and Marines was workshopped and given a staged reading at the ATHE (Association for Theatre in Higher Education) conference in Las Vegas.

His short stories have been published by literary journals such as Phoebe, Qu, Flyway, and Antennae.
 


Review: Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood

  A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science. Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few frie...